Thank you for taking the time to read this series. Click here to go back to the beginning if you missed it. I hope it is meaningful and can help you obtain acceptance into your medical school! The schedule may seem intense and scary, but this is just a blueprint and a schedule you can follow, not a must-do. In fact, those were my goals in obtaining acceptance, but even at times, I steered away from the schedule due to unexpected events. I have detailed below the times that I did steer away from my schedule.
- The Monster MCAT: I scheduled my first MCAT on April 22, 2017. I was also the President of the Sri Lankan Student Association and had planned a huge charity ball two weekends before my MCAT. The majority of the dedicated time leading up to the MCAT was spent on preparing for the event rather than my MCAT. I ended up with a mediocre score on my MCAT and the earliest I could retake it was the end of June. During the month of May, I was completing my application, while also studying for the MCAT. I do not believe this put me at a huge disadvantage because I was still able to get my application verified early enough. It was a struggle balancing taking the MCAT and completing my application, thus I would try your best to complete it beforehand. But keep in mind it is still possible to get accepted even if you don’t follow a strict timeline.
- Accepting Denials: I received my first denial very early in the game. No explanation was given. Just a quick email telling me to apply next year and possibly consider post-baccalaureate options. This was devastating news at the time, but a month later I received multiple secondaries and interviews from different schools. Realize you just need one school to accept you and that is your seat to become the doctor you want to be.
Please reach out below or via email if you have any questions or concerns. This is a long and challenging process, but so well worth it.
